He didn't know which one terrified him more.

Lady Wizard Alyssa, Guardian of the Blade of Unmaking, didn't know about the first item yet (indeed, neither would Edward for another seven minutes), but she was deeply apprehensive - all right, terrified - about the second.

"Both Logas and I have classes this term," Lady Wizard Sarras, Guardian of the Grail and Alyssa's mentor and best friend, pointed out. "And, as you of all people know, we do not send the new Guardian of a Treasure out to retrieve it by himself."

Alyssa nodded. "I know," she agreed. "It's hard enough to handle the Treasure itself - especially when it's an anti-Treasure - without having to deal with anything else. I could never have managed without the two of you helping me. Actually, I'd probably be dead if you hadn't been there. Now it's my turn to watch over and assist Edward." She looked around the Commons where the three of them were having an informal conference over breakfast. "They're going to stop serving soon," she remarked. "I hope he doesn't miss breakfast."

Lord High Wizard Logas looked at the doorway. "I believe that's Edward now." All three of them watched the young man who virtually sleepwalked through the serving line and then added a large mug of coffee to his tray. "I'll bring him over," Logas added, rising to collect his wandering protege.

Edward sat down, still half-asleep, and took a long pull from the mug. "Metamorphose, O Morpheus! Secede, O somnolence!" he muttered.

"Is that a new spell to wake up," Sarras asked lightly, "or is there just too much blood in your caffeine stream?"

"Uh, the latter," Edward said. "I don't think I want to wake up." He sighed, extracted a letter from his book bag, and broke the seal. He must really be asleep, thought Alyssa. Otherwise he'd be the first to consider that a breach of etiquette.

The faux pas did not go unpunished. Two sentences into the second paragraph Edward choked on his coffee.

"Bad news?" Alyssa asked.

"My father," he groaned, and read aloud: "'...The Board of Directors will hold its annual meeting here during the Feast of the Nativity. Since you will one day take the helm of the Company, I believe it is high time they met you. I shall send a Company carriage for you on the twenty-third of December at noon.'

"Today. Just like that," Edward commented glumly. "Alexander Speaks, and it is Done."

Everyone at the table knew about Edward's father, who had a strong magical talent, an uncanny ability to influence public opinion, and ambitions for his son that matched neither Edward's talent nor his inclinations. Edward's one attempt to live up to his father and influence someone's thinking had occurred two and a half years ago, here at the University's College of Wizardry. The results had been disastrous, including serious magical injury to a fellow student that had nearly seen Edward expelled or worse. Only the compassion of Stephen, his victim, had saved him.

Edward had labored long and hard to undo what his magic had done to Stephen, and in the process the two of them had not only cemented a friendship but, as a team, were currently marking out new territory in academic magic.

Alyssa felt a strong sympathy for him. Even centuries after their deaths, she still remembered what her parents' disapproval felt like. Alexander was not likely to take Edward's new position well at all. She hoped there was someone else available to run the family import/export business, because after today Edward would no longer be a candidate.

"We have some news for you," Lady Sarras said, raising the subject of their meeting and their reason for waylaying their young colleague.

"Good or bad?" he replied with forced lightness.

"Good, bad, and bad," Alyssa said. "What do you know about Guardians?"